Rover 200 Series
Encyclopedia : R : RO : ROV : Rover 200 Series
| Rover 200-series/25 | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | MG Rover |
| Production: | 1984–2005 |
| Predecessor: | Austin Maestro |
| Successor: | n/a |
| Class: | FF compact car |
| Mark I - 213/216 | |
| |
| Production: | 1984–1988 |
| Related: | Honda Ballade |
| Body Styles: | 4-door saloon |
| Engines: | 1.3 L I4 1.6 L S-Series I4 |
| Mark II - 200 series | |
| |
| Production: | 1989–1994 |
| Related: | Honda Concerto Rover 400 |
| Body Styles: | 5-door hatchback 3-door hatchback 2-door coupe 2-door cabriolet |
| Engines: | 1.4 L K-Series I4 1.6 L I4 2.0 L M-Series I4 2.0 L T-Series |
| Mark III - 200 series | |
| |
| Production: | 1995–1999 |
| Body Styles: | 5-door hatchback 3-door hatchback |
| Engines: | 1.8 L K-Series I4 |
| Mark III facelift -25 | |
| |
| Production: | 2000–2005 |
| Related: | MG ZR |
| Body Styles: | 5-door hatchback 3-door hatchback |
| Engines: | 1.1 L K-Series I4 1.4 L K-Series I4 1.6 L K-Series I4 1.8 L K-Series I4 2.0 L Diesel I4 |
The Rover 200-series / 25 is an automobile produced by the Austin Rover Group, and latterly the Rover Group and MG Rover.
There have been three distinct generations of the car, the first two of which were badge engineered Honda models, and known as the 200 series. The final generation was developed by Rover independently, and was initially sold under the Rover 200 name. After the sale of Rover in 2000 and a facelift, the model was renamed and sold as both the Rover 25 and MG ZR. Production ceased in 2005 when MG Rover went into administration.
The Rover 200 was originally a four-door sedan, based on the Honda Ballade, but in second (R8) and third (R3) generation forms, it was available in three- or five-door hatchback forms, as well as other niche versions.
1984
This version was the replacement for the earlier Triumph Acclaim, and was the second product of the alliance between British Leyland and Honda. Only available as a four-door sedan. It was intended to be more upmarket than the company's Maestro, model which came close to the 200 in size.
Essentially, the 200 was a Honda Ballade which sported the Civic-derived 1.3 L 12-valve engine, or BL's own S-Series in 1.6 L format, the resulting cars being badged as either "Rover 213" or "Rover 216". The Honda badged version was the first Honda car to be built in the United Kingdom (the Honda version of the Acclaim was never sold in the UK); Ballade bodyshells were made in the Cowley plant alongside the Rover equivalent, although they all used Honda engines.
This (original) version of the 200 series was only offered in saloon form. This version of the 213/216 fell into the small executive saloon class. Other cars in this class included the Vauxhall Belmont, Audi 80, Ford Orion, VW Jetta and the Daihatsu Charmant.
Trim levels were:
- base - basic trim, only available as 213.
- S - base model, as both 213/216.
- SE - mid-range spec, as both 213/216.
- SX - as both 213/216.
- Vitesse - top spec model, 216 only.
1989
This model, codenamed R8, was the first car to be introduced by the newly privatised Rover Group (1988), and was a quantum leap in terms of technology and image. Once again, the model was designed in collaboration with Honda (who produced the new designed-for-Europe Concerto model). Initially only available as a five-door hatchback, this was the first application of Rover's groundbreaking K-Series family of engines (appearing in 1.4 L (1396 cc) twin-cam 16-valve form).
The 1.6 L (1590 cc) version used either a Honda D16A6 SOHC or D16A8 DOHC powerplant, while the 2.0 L Rover M-Series engine unit from the 800-series followed soon afterwards (1991) in the sporty versions. Later versions used the sturdier Rover T-Series engine. The Rover engined models drove the front wheels via Peugeot-sourced R65 gearboxes (1.4-litre) and Honda-designed PG1s for the 1.6- and 2-litre versions.
The R8 also sported a luxurious and well appointed interior, which was a cut above arch-rivals Ford and Vauxhall and allowed Rover to move upmarket, strengthening its image. In 1990, the 400-series saloon appeared, and by 1992 a cabriolet (convertible) and three-door bodystyles were available. The range was rounded off in 1993 by a coupe and estate ('Tourer'). The coupe, cabriolet and estate continued after the rest of the range had been superseded, but without the 200 and 400 tags - known instead as the Rover Coupe, Cabriolet and Tourer repectively until production ceased in 1999.
Trim levels were:
- i - basic trim, only available with 1.4 petrol and 1.8 diesel, hatchback only.
- S - base model, only available with 1.4 petrol and 1.8 diesel, hatchback only.
- Si - mid-range spec, only available with 1.4 petrol.
- SLi - luxury model, five-door hatchback - with 1.4, 1.6 and (from 1993) 2.0 petrol and (from 1991) 1.8 turbodiesel engines.
- GSi - top spec model, as SLi, three/five-door hatchback - with 1.4, 1.6 and (from 1993) 2.0/2.0 turbo petrol and (from 1991) 1.8 turbodiesel engines. Note: 220 GSi was the only GSi version offered in three-door form.
- GTi - sports model, three/five-door hatchback, 1.6 and 1.6 turbo. GTi TC was rare twin cam version.
- SE - 1.6 Coupe only, from 1996
- VVC - 1.8 VVC Coupe only, from 1996
1995
The third generation, codenamed R3, was smaller than the previous two cars. This was due to Rover's desperate need to replace the ageing Metro, which by now was well past its sell-by date, although both cars continued in production simultaneously for several more years. Although some elements of the old 200-series were carried over (most notably the floorpan), it was by-and-large an all-new car which had been developed by Rover without input from Honda. The two companies had already been "divorced" after the BMW takeover the previous year, and as a result the R3 only used Rover-produced K-Series engines, most notably the 1.8 L VVC version from the MGF.
Launched as a 1.4i 16v (103bhp) and 1.6i 16v (111bhp), the range grew later to include a 1.1i (60bhp) and 1.4i 8v (75bhp) engines and also 1.8 16v units in standard (120bhp) and variable valve formats (145bhp). Manual gearboxes were available across the range and a CVT option was available on the 1.6i 16v unit.The K series engines had and still have an alarming reputation for head gasket failure.This generation of Rover 200 had dissapointing interiors compared to its rivals, a piece of fake wood and cheap nylon fabric being two of the main let downs.
In 1998 a limited edition model called the 200 BRM was offered - priced at just under £18k. Using the 200Vi as a basis, changes were mainly cosmetic; this model is noticeable by its orange lower front grille and quilted red leather interior. To overcome objections to the grille colour, some Rover dealers resprayed them silver.
2000
A facelifted version, known as the Rover 25 was launched in autumn 1999 for the 2000 model year. This version used the similar frontal styling as the larger 75 model. The chassis had been uprated to give sportier handling (suspension setting from 200vi)and the front end had been restyled to give it the corporate Rover look first seen in the range-topping 75, but the 25 was instantly recognisable as a reworked 200 Series. The 1.4 L, 1.6 L and 1.8 L petrol engines as well as the 2.0 L diesel were all carried over from the previous range. From late 2000, there was also an economical but powerful 1.1 L petrol engine available in the 25 range.
Less than a year after the Rover 25 was launched, BMW sold the Rover Group to the Phoenix consortium for a token £10. By the summer of 2001, the newly-named MG Rover Group had introduced a sporty version of the Rover 25 - the MG ZR. It had modified interior and exterior styling, as well as sports suspension, to give the car the look of a 'hot' hatchback. The largest engine in the range was the 1.8 VVC 160 hp (119 kW) unit which had a top speed of more than 130 mph (209 km/h).
By 2004, the age of the Rover 25/MG ZR's design was showing, so MG Rover gave the cars an exterior restyle to make them look more modern. Production of both cars was suspended in April 2005 when the company went into administration, although it could restart (possibly in a foreign country) if MG Rover is saved by a new owner.
Specifications for the Rover 25 design were purchased by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation in early 2005, though new MG Rover Group owner, Nanjing Automobile Group now owns the tooling for the car. Whether one company or both will produce the car in the future is a matter currently disputed in the courts in China.
External links
- [Austin-Rover.co.uk Rover 213/216 index page]
- [Austin-Rover.co.uk Rover 200/400 index page]
- [Austin-Rover.co.uk Rover 200/25/MG ZR index page]
- [James Crofts' Rover 200 BRM webpage]
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